Automobile body frame



Fatenteinl .llan. F, i923.

t I 5 if. 1 11111111 LEO I. HEINTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HEINTZ MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE JBODY FRAME.

Application filed October 11, 1921. Serial No. 506,946.

make the sill members of channel forms with the channeleuppermost so as to receive the vertical posts and to provide metalllc members which are secured to the sill and to .the

posts by suitable fastenings.

A still further object of the invention is to make the sills with integral sections, which are bent over the channel at the doors, forming the closed sill at the doors.

These and other objects I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side view of the body of an automobile, showing the chassis and hood in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one-half of the body;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sill member, showing the posts attached thereto;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the sill at the rear door;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5. Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 6-6. Figs. 1 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7, Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8, Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view on the line 9-9, Fig. 1; v

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view on the line 10 10, Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the blank from which the sill is made; and

Figs. 12 to 15, both inclusive, are detached perspective views of the different socket members.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the chassis of an automobile. 2 is the hood. 3 is the portion is built. This sill is secured to the side frames of the chassis. The sill is metallic and is made in the form of a channel, as shown clearly in the drawings. Each side sill is preferably made in one piece and the two sides are connected by a back body portion 4*, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The channel member is flanged at each side 5 and the sill is arranged with the channel opening at the top, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, so as to form a socket for the posts 6, 7, 8 and 9. Each post is adapted to a metallic socket section, which is riveted, bolted or welded to the channel. The post 6 fits into a socket member 10, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The lower portion of the socket member 10 is flanged at 11 and secured to the walls of the channel sill by rivets, or other fastenings, and extends on three sides of the post, being secured to the post by bolts 12.

The post 6 conforms to the shape of the socket member 10 and is rigidly held to the sill by said socket member. The post 7 fits into a socket member 13 somewhat similar to the socket member 10, but it has a curved fillet I l-fitting the curve of the rear of the door. This fillet is extended and flanged and is secured to the sill.

The front door is located between the two posts 6 and 7 and the sill has a portion 15, which is bent over the channel of the sill and closes the channel. forming the sill for the front doorway. The socket for the post 8 is similar to the socket 10 of the post 6. In the present instance. the socket 17 for the post 9 is made as shown in Fig. 14 and is of greater length than the other socket members and has a branch 18, which receives the upper end of the curved wooden brace 19. This socket member has a fillet 20 connecting the branch with the base portion. The socket member is flanged at 21. The flanges are secured by rivets to the channel sill. The curved brace 19 is secured to a socket 22, Fig. 15, which is flanged at 23. Rivets secure the flanges to the sill. The socket member has a curved portion 24, which conforms to the shape of the rear door and is extended and has a flange 25, which is also riveted to the sill.

By theabove construction. the, posts 6, 7, 8 and 9 are held firmly to the sill.

26 is an integral section of the sill memher and is bent over to form the sill of the rear doorway in the same manner that the portion 15 forms the sill of the front doorway. These two sections 15 and 26 are shown clearly in Fig. 11, which illustrates the blank before it is bent into shape. Each of these portions is flanged, as shown in Fig. 5 8, and the flanges may be welded, or riveted,

to other flanges of the sill section.

While, in the present instance, the parts and 26 are shown integral with the sill, in some cases the sill may be made from a blank not having the extensions and the sill members may be separate and secured to the channel sill by welding. The sheet metal facing 27 is secured to the-posts and is lapped under and secured to the sill, as 15 clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Itwill be noticedthat the inner portion of the channel member forming the sill is less in height than the outer portion. This construction allows for the flooring 28 to rest on the inner flange of the sill, as shown by -\.dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 8.

the construction hereinbefore describ ed, an exceedingly rigid body is made in which the bottom frame, or sill, consists of a channel member, which gives the body rigidity and strength and to which Wooden posts can be firmly secured. The wooden posts prevent undue noise and provide a ready means for securing the doors, and 30 other elements of the body, to the frame.

Furthermore, the sill, being made of a channel member, is comparatively light inweight, and, being upright, acts as a strengthening member for the chassis channel.

I claim:

1. The combination of a channel frame for an automobile, or other vehicle, in which the channel is uppermost; a socket member located in the channel; and a post carried by the socket member.

2. The combination of a sill for an automobile, or other vehicle, said sill being formed of a channel member, the channel being uppermost; and a series of socket members secured in the channel at spaced distances apart.

3. The combination of a sill for the body of an automobile, or other vehicle, said sill consisting of a channel member extending the full length of the body; a series of socket members located in the channel and secured to the side members of the channel; and a series of posts, also extending into 55,}the channel member, and fitting the socket "members and secured thereto.

4. The combination of a sill for the body of an automobile, or other vehicle, said sill consisting of an upright channel member 60 extending substantially the full length of the body; a series of socket members located in the channel and secured to the side members of the channel; a series of posts, also extending into the channel member, and fitting the socket members and secured thereto; a brace extending from one of the posts to the channel member; and a socket for the lower end of said brace, said socket being located within the channel and secured thereto.

5. The combination of a sill member for an automobile, or other vehicle, said sill member extending in a continuous piece at each side of the body; a connecting section at the back; a series of sockets located in the channel and secured to the channel member; and a Series of posts spaced apart and extending into the socket and into the channel sill and secured to the socket members.

6. The combination of a sill in the form of a channel with the channel uppermost. the inner side of the sill being less in height than the outside; a series of socket members secured to the sill; posts secured to the socket members; and a floor resting on the lower member of the channel.

7. A one-piece channel sill for an automobile or other vehicle, in which the channel is uppermost, and having integral sill portions at the door openings bent over and enclosing the channel.

8. The combination of a channel sill having the channel uppermost, the outer side of the channel member being higher than the inner side; a series of sockets spaced apart and located in the channel and secured to the inner member of the channel; a series of posts located in the sockets and extending into the channel; fillets on some of the sockets; and sill plates extending over the channel and enclosing the same at the door openings.

9. In an automobile body frame, a onepiece side sill in channel form with the channel uppermost, outer and inner flanges integral thereon, integral sill sections bent over at the door openings and enclosing the sill channel, and flanges on said sections overlapping and secured to said inner sill flange.

10. In vehicle body construction, in combination, a channel frame in which the channel is uppermost, a socket member located in the channel, a post carried by the socket member, and sheet metal facing secured to said channel frame.

11. In vehicle body construction, in combination. a sill formed of a channel member with the channel uppermost, a socket member located in the channel, a post carried by the socket member. and sheet metal facing secured to said post and lapped under and secured to said sill.

LEO I. HEINTZ. 

